Starting in Fall 2021, Hellenic College Holy Cross requires students and staff to be fully vaccinated. In addition to the ethical concerns about the use of aborted fetal cells, this move by HCHC violates the principle of voluntary, informed consent for medical procedures. The Russian Orthodox Church, among other Orthodox jurisdictions, has stated that vaccine coercion is morally unacceptable. To prepare for ministry in the Church, young men, at almost no risk for COVID, will be forced to take an experimental treatment with uncertain short-term and long-term side effects. This situation is all the more troubling as many Orthodox Christians have already relied on religious exemptions to avoid taking vaccines which are not FDA approved. These treatments are available only under an “emergency use” authorization. Secular institutions have honored the freedom of conscience of Orthodox Christians, but an Orthodoxy seminary apparently will not. The situation borders on the surreal.
https://orthodoxreflections.com/open-letter-to-holy-cross-hellenic-college-on-covid-vaccine-requirement/